Refrigerating unit



I Jan. 9, 1934.. w, KRlTzER 1,943,124

REFRIGERATING UNIT Filed Feb. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ii. VV. KR/TZER ATTOR N EYS Jan. 9., 1934. w KRlTzER v 1,943,124

REFRIGERATING UNIT Filed Feb. 20. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f I V I 22 a I I l INV ENTOR #7 R. 14 KR/TZA-E ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES REFRIGERATING UNIT Richard W. Kritzer, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Edwin W. Hammer,

New York, N. Y.

Application February 20, 1929. Serial No. 341,525

'1 Claims. (Cl. 62-95) My invention relates to improvements in refrigerating units, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a refrigerating unit in which means is provided for displacing refrigerant liquid within the unit and inwhich the displacement means is so arranged that a film of refrigerant liquid is provided around the inner sides of the float chamber.

A further object is to provide a refrigerating unit of a type which will provide a maximum cooling efiiciency with a minimum amount of refrigerant liquid.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application,

in which Figure 1 isa front elevation, partly in section, of my invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the unit shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of 'a refrigcrating system embodying my invention.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of an outer shell 1 narrowed at 2 for providing substantially cylindrical portions 3 and 4, as shown in Figure 1. The space within the portion defined by the substantially cylindrical portion 3 will be hereinafter referred to as the float chamber or header 5. The interior of the shell formed by the substantially cylindrical portion 4 will be hereinafter referred to as the freezing chamber 6. An inner shell 7 is spaced away from and disposed within the outer shell 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The inner shell 7 is held in spaced relation from the outer shell 1 by means of a series of filler strips 8, as shown in Figure 3.

The inner shell 7 is provided with an arcuate depressed portion 9 for closing the space between the float chamber and the freezing chamber 6, as shown in Figure 1, and the arcuate portion 9 cooperates with the cylindrical portion 3 to form a substantially cylindrical header 5. The inner shell '7 is provided with a projecting portion 10, see Figure 2, and the outer shell 1 is slit at 11 to provide portions 12 which are bent and secured to the projecting portion as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The portions 12 are secured to the projecting member 10 by welding, as in dicated at 13. In referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the filler strips 8 terminate substantially at a point indicated at 14.

The use of two sheets of metal employed in the foregoing construction to form a cylindrical header and side walls of a freezing chamber provided with refrigerant passageways, is described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 341,524, filed concurrently with this application.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that one end of the float chamber 5 is closed by means of a plate 15 which is welded at 16 to the outer and inner shells. The opposite end of the float chamber is closed by means of a cover 1'? having an integral displacement member 18. The cover 1'? is provided with a plurality of openings 19 for receiving bolts 20. The bolts are provided with threaded portions 21 disposed within threaded openings 22 in a plate 23.

Thus it will be seen that when the nuts 24 associated with the bolts are tightened, the cover 17 will be firmly held in position. The cover 17 is provided with an opening 25 for receiving the threaded end of a refrigerant liquid feed pipe 26 and an opening 27 for receiving the threaded end of a vapor pipe 28. The opening 25 is placed in communication with the interior of the float chamber 5 by means of a passageway 29.

The passageway 29 may be closed by means of a valve 30 carried by an arm 31 associated with a float lever 32. A displacement member 18 is provided with a groove 33 within which the float lever 32 is movably disposed.- The displacement member is also provided with a recess 34 in which a float 35 associated with the float lever is positioned. The displacement member 18 is spaced away from the walls of the float chamber 5 to provide a space 36. The recess 34 is placed in communication with the space 36 by means of a passageway 37. The float lever 32 is pivotally mounted upon a pair of lugs 38 by means of a pin 39, see Figures 1 and 3. In Figure 3 I have shown the filler strips 8 in their spaced-apart positions between the outer and inner shells for forming refrigerant liquid passageways 40.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. In Figure 4 I have indicated diagrammatically one manner in which my invention may be used in connectionwith a refrigerating system. The refrigerating unit is shown as being disposed within a refrigerator 41. The vapor pipe 28 is connected with a main line 42 which is operatively connected with a compressor 43. nected with a condenser 44 by means of a pipe 45. The refrigerant liquid feed pipe 26 is operatively connected with the condenser 44 by means of a main feed pipe 46.

In operation, when the compressor 43 is working, the refrigerant vapor will be forced into the condenser, where it is cooled and liquefied. The liquid in the condenser is forced into the pipe 46 and enters the float chamber 5 through the passageway 29.

The refrigerant liquid entering the float chamber will run down between the displacement member 18 and the walls of the float chamber and into the spaces 40. When the proper amount of refrigerant liquid has been forced into the float chamber, the float lever 32 will be lifted sufficiently far for moving the valve 30 into a closing position with respect to the passageway 29. When the refrigerant liquid passageways 40 have been filled, the liquid will pass into. the space 36 through the passageway 37 and into the recess 34 for lifting the float 35.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a refrigerating unit in which a minimum amount of refrigerant liquid is necessary. Further than this, I have provided a device in which the float associated with the valve is operated by a film of liquid. The vaporized liquid is drawn from the float chamber 5 through the vapor pipe 28. After a certain amount of liquid has been vaporized, the liquid level within the float chamber will be such that the float 35 will lower sufliciently far to open the valve 30, thereby permitting another supply of liquid refrigerant to pass into the float chamber.

The compressor 43 is operatively connected with a motor M. The motor is connected with a source of current through conductors 4'7 and 48. The outer and inner shells are secured together by welding, as indicated at 49 and 50. The freezing chamber 6 provides space within which trays and the like may be placed for freezing ice cubes, etc. i

I claim:

1. Ina refrigerating system, a refrigerating unit comprising an inner shell and an outer shell spaced therefrom, said shells being formed to provide a float chamber and a freezing chamber, a plurality of displacement means disposed between said inner and outer shells for providing a plurality of refrigerant liquid passageways, dis placement means disposed within said float chamber and arranged to provide a space for a film of refrigerant liquid between the displacement means and the walls of the float chamber, said displacement means being provided with a depression, and float-operated valve means disposed within said float chamber for controlling the passage of a refrigerant liquid into said float chamber, the float associated with said valve means being disposed within said depression and away from the walls of the latter for providing a space for a film of refrigerant liquid between the walls of the depression and the float.

2. In a refrigerating system, a refrigerating unit comprising an inner shell and an outer shell spaced therefrom, said shells being formed to provide a float chamber and a freezing chamber, a plurality of displacement means disposed between said inner and outer shells for providing a plurality of refrigerant liquid passageways, displacement means disposed within said float chamber and arranged to provide a space for a The compressor is operatively confilm of refrigerant liquid between the displacement means and the walls of the float chamber, said displacement means being provided with a depression, and float-operated valve means disposed within said float chamber for controlling the passage of a refrigerant liquid into said float chamber, the float associated with said valve means being disposed within said depression and away from the walls of the latter for providing a space for a film of refrigerant liquid between the walls of the depression and the float, said displacement means being provided with a passageway for placing said depression in communication with the space between the displacementmeans and the walls of the float chamber.

3. In a refrigerating system, a refrigerating unit comprising a float chamber and a freezing chamber, said freezing chamber comprising inner and outer shells disposed in spaced relation, a plurality of displacement means disposed between said inner and outer shells for providing a plurality of refrigerant liquid passageways communicating with said float chamber, displacement means disposed within said float chamber for providing a film of refrigerant liquid between the walls of the float chamber and said displacement means, and valve means for controlling the level of the refrigerant liquid within said float chamber.

4. A refrigerating unit comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, said outer shell being shaped to provide a portion partly defining a header, said inner shell being shaped to provide a portion cooperating with said first named portion for completely defining said header, the remaining portion of said sheets'being spaced apart and shaped to define a freezing chamber, both ends of said header being open, a plate for closing one end of said header, a cover-for closing the opposite end of said header and having a displacement member extending into said header for providing a narrow space for a refrigerant between the walls of the header and the displacement member, float operated valve means mounted upon said cover for controlling the flow of the refrigerant into said header, said displacement member having a recess slightly larger in diameter than said float, said float being disposed within said recess and operated by a film of refrigerant liquid between the float and the walls of the recess, a plurality of elements positioned between the spaced apart portions of said shells to provide a plurality of passageways for refrigerant communicating with the header and encircling said freezing chamber.

5. A refrigerating unit comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, said outer shell being shaped to provide a portion partly defining a header, said inner shell being shaped to provide a portion cooperating with said first named portion for completely defining said header, the remaining portions of said sheets being shaped to define a freezing chamber, both ends of said header being open, a plate for closing one end of said header, a cover for closing the opposite end of said header and having a displacement member extending into said header for providing l- 1,943,12 the float and the walls of the recess, a plurality of elements positioned between portions of said shells to provide a plurality of passageways for refrigerant communicating with the header and encircling said freezing chamber, and bolt means for firmly securing the cover to said header;

6. A refrigerating unit comprising anflouter shell and an inner shell, said outer shell being shaped to provide a portion partly defining a header, said inner shell being shapedto provide a portion cooperating with said first named portion for completely defining said header, the remaining portions of said sheets'being shaped to deflnea freezing chamber, a cover for closing an openend of said header and having a displacement member extending into saidheader for providing a space for a refrigerant between the walls of the header and the displacement member, float operated valve means mounted upon said ,cover for controlling the flow of the refrigerant into said header; said displacement member having a recess slightly larger in diameter than said float, said float being disposed within said recess and operated by a film of refrigerant liquid between thefloat and the walls of the recess, and a plurality of elements positioned between portions of said shells. to provide a plurality of passageways for refrigerant comv municating with the header and encircling said freezing chamber.

'7. A refrigerating unit comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, said outer shell being. shaped to provide a portion partly defining a header, said inner shell being shaped to provide a portion cooperating with said first named portion for completely defining said header, the remaining portions of said sli'eets being shaped to define a freezing chamber, a cover for closing an open end-bf said header and having a displacement member extending into said header for providing a space for a refrigerant between the walls of the header and the displacement member,'and a plurality of elements positioned between portions of said shells to provide a plurality of passageways for refrigerant communicating with the header and encircling said freezing chamber.

RICHARD KRITZISJR. 

